The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B580 combination presents a specific performance profile for The Medium, a horror title released on 2021-01-27. The data indicates a pairing where the CPU is a top-tier performer while the GPU holds a more mid-range position, resulting in a system that is significantly constrained by graphics processing at higher settings. The benchmark results show that this combination is only capable of maintaining 60 FPS at the Low preset across 2560x1440 and 1920x1080 resolutions, making it a system for gamers willing to compromise on visual fidelity.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 sits in a performance class defined by its nearest rivals. Its average benchmark score of 64640 places it within a tight cluster of processors. The AMD EPYC 4464P is a near-identical performer, with an average score of 64823, a delta of -0.3% relative to the Core Ultra 7 265. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, these two chips would be virtually indistinguishable. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is also a direct sibling, scoring 64438, a 0.3% delta, indicating that the "F" variant (typically without integrated graphics) offers the same computational performance. Further down the list, the AMD EPYC 7343 and AMD EPYC 9124 score 64202 and 65104 respectively, with deltas of 0.7% and -0.7%. These are all professional-grade processors, indicating that the Core Ultra 7 265's performance is aligned with high-end workstation silicon, making it a massive overmatch for the GPU in a gaming context.

On the graphics side, the Intel Arc B580's average benchmark score of 23021 places it in a more modest tier. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, scores 23061, a -0.2% delta, showing that the B580's raw compute performance is on par with an older, lower-end card. Interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is also a close competitor, scoring 22895, a 0.6% delta, suggesting that the Arc B580 can trade blows with a previous-generation high-end card in synthetic tests. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, a much more powerful card, is also listed as a rival with an average score of 23172, a -0.7% delta. This proximity in average scores is misleading, as it does not reflect real-world gaming performance, but it does suggest that the Arc B580's overall compute capability is in the same ballpark as these older NVIDIA cards. The inclusion of the NVIDIA P106-100, a mining-focused card, further underscores that the B580's performance class is defined by a wide range of legacy hardware.

These rival comparisons reveal a significant imbalance. A CPU that rivals server-class EPYC processors is paired with a GPU that performs like a mid-range card from several generations ago. For a gamer, this means that the system's potential is locked behind the GPU's limits, especially in a game like The Medium which appears to be heavily GPU-bound at higher presets.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run The Medium at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 33 FPS, which falls well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1920x1080?

A: The data shows that only the Low preset achieves a playable frame rate at 1920x1080, with an average of 88 FPS. The Medium preset averages 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 4464P's score of 64823, a -0.3% difference. The performance is effectively equal.

Q: Is the Arc B580's performance closer to an RTX 2080 or an RTX 3080?

A: According to the average benchmark scores, the Arc B580's score of 23021 is 0.6% higher than the RTX 2080's 22895, and 0.7% lower than the RTX 3080's 23172. Its average score is nearly in the middle of these two.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this system?

A: The lowest recorded minimum FPS is 31 FPS, which occurred at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. The minimum FPS values were only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution.

Q: What is the system's overall rank among tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2819 out of 3724 tested combinations for The Medium, placing it in the lower half of all tested systems.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B580 ranks 2819 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places the system in the bottom 25% of all configurations tested, a surprisingly low position given the strength of the CPU. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance ceiling. While the CPU's benchmark percentile is 93, indicating it is faster than 93% of all CPUs, the GPU's percentile is 68. This discrepancy in component classes is the primary driver of the system's low overall rank.

The rank of 2819 implies that a large number of systems, likely those with more balanced pairings of mid-range CPUs and GPUs, outperform this combination in this specific title. The data suggests that The Medium is highly sensitive to GPU performance, and the Arc B580's mid-range standing is the limiting factor. The system's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability, but rather a measure of the entire system's inability to push high frame rates at demanding settings. The 60 FPS playable threshold is only met at Low settings, which further cements the system's position in the lower echelons of the benchmark database for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 88 FPS on Low, which drops to 55 FPS on Medium, 40 FPS on High, and 31 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, which are 47 and 64 respectively, indicating a playable but variable experience that still misses the 60 FPS average target.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops across all settings. Low settings yield an average of 74 FPS, which is the only playable configuration at this resolution. Medium averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and maximum of 54. High settings drop to 33 FPS, and Ultra falls to 26 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, with an average loss of roughly 16% at Low settings, but a more significant drop at higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the system is largely overwhelmed. The only remotely playable setting is Low, which averages 58 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 37 FPS, with a minimum of 31 and maximum of 42. High settings average 26 FPS, and Ultra drops to a slideshow-like 21 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this pairing, even at the lowest settings.

The FPS deltas between Low and Ultra are consistent across resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (88 FPS) and Ultra (31 FPS) is 57 FPS. At 1440p, the difference is 48 FPS (74 to 26). At 4K, the difference is 37 FPS (58 to 21). This shrinking delta at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the absolute bottleneck, and lowering settings has diminishing returns as the resolution itself becomes the primary constraint.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data clearly indicates that the Intel Arc B580 is the dominant bottleneck in this system for The Medium. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is a high-end desktop part that scores in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its performance is far beyond what a game like The Medium would require. The GPU, however, has a benchmark percentile of 68 and is the weak link.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings drops from 88 to 74, a 16% decrease. This is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the render resolution increases and the GPU must work harder. At High settings, the drop is from 40 to 33 FPS, an 18% decrease. The consistent drop across the resolution ladder points to the GPU being the primary constraint.

The scaling between presets at a fixed resolution further supports this. At 2560x1440, the FPS drops from 74 on Low to 47 on Medium, a 36% decrease. This is a massive performance hit for a single preset step, which is characteristic of a GPU that is already working near its maximum capacity. A more powerful GPU would show a less dramatic drop as it has more headroom to absorb the increased workload.

The CPU's role is largely relegated to ensuring the game runs without stutters or frame drops caused by processor limitations. The data shows that the system's low rank is not due to CPU issues, as its nearest rivals are server-grade EPYC processors. The CPU is providing a stable platform, but the GPU is the component that determines the achievable frame rates. At 4K, the CPU's advantage is completely negated, as the GPU is unable to produce more than 58 FPS even on Low settings. The conclusion is that for this game, the GPU is the primary and overwhelming performance driver.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the best settings for each resolution are as follows:

• 3840x2160 (4K): No playable settings are available. The Low preset averages 58 FPS, which is marginally below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 37 FPS, which is far below playable.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): The best playable setting is Low, with an average FPS of 74. This is the only preset at this resolution that clears the 60 FPS bar.
• 1920x1080 (1080p): The best playable setting is Low, with an average FPS of 88. The Medium preset averages 55 FPS, which is close but does not meet the playable threshold.

The system cannot run the game at High or Ultra settings at any resolution while maintaining 60 FPS. The data shows that even at 1080p, which is the least demanding resolution tested, the GPU is unable to handle the Medium preset at a playable frame rate. This indicates that the Arc B580 is fundamentally underpowered for this title's higher visual settings.

The Verdict

Can this PC run The Medium? The answer is a conditional yes. According to the verdictByResolution data, this system can run the game at a playable frame rate only at the Low preset for both 2560x1440 and 1920x1080 resolutions. At 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low is 74. At 1920x1080, the average FPS at Low is 88. For 3840x2160, the system fails to meet the 60 FPS threshold even at the lowest settings, with an average of 58 FPS.

The system is not capable of running the game at Medium, High, or Ultra settings at any resolution while maintaining a 60 FPS average. The most demanding playable setup is Low at 1440p, which offers a smooth experience but sacrifices visual quality. The data shows a clear performance ceiling that is defined by the GPU's capabilities. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is more than adequate for this task, but the Intel Arc B580's mid-range performance prevents the system from achieving higher frame rates at more demanding settings. For a gamer seeking a stable 60 FPS experience, this system is limited to Low settings at 1080p and 1440p, making it a viable option for those who prioritize frame rate over graphical fidelity.